Tuesday, March 28, 2006

Sports Bra Drama

I believe in progress and I am one of those people dazzled by cool new gadgets. My personal favorites are kitchen toys. I’m certain I was the first on my block to own a mini handy chopper with the special pulse button for finer dice.

However the invention I seek is not for the kitchen. It’s for the locker room.

I need a device that will help me remove my sports bra after an aerobic workout. You know the one I’m talking about. The stretchy scrap of fabric, which becomes hermetically sealed to your flesh even after a low impact workout.

The other day my husband caught me flailing around knocking over various things on our faux marble bathroom counter in a hopeless attempt to peel the sodden Lycra from the upper part of my body. All I managed to do was somehow get my elbows got trapped inside at unnatural angles. When my husband stopped laughing long enough…he helped me out of it. But he’s not always available to laugh at me before graciously sticking a knee in my ribcage to add leverage to pull the stubborn bleeping thing off!! Please someone tell me the secret! How does one extract one’s self from a sweat-laced sports bra without the help of another. I know I’m not the only one! Please tell me I’m not the only one!

We need some sort of new invention. Perhaps a shoehorn like device for this effort. Perhaps it could be mounted on the wall or better yet the back of the bathroom door.

OR even better yet…we need to invent a robot for this!! Instead of a robot to vacuum the house--boring snore--how about inventing one to extract a girl from her stubborn sports bra after exercising.

I write about this tonight, because tomorrow is Wednesday and it’s an aerobics day…and I will face the dreaded sweaty awkward struggle alone. So if anyone knows if such a robot has been invented, please let me know.

Friday, March 24, 2006

Where has the week gone?

I swear just five minutes ago it was Wednesday. And here it is Friday. Time to blog. I know if I don't I'll start getting e-mails from Colorado. :):)

I dedicate today to those who have received less than the best news expected.You know...Bad News. I hate bad news. I hate hearing when friends and loved ones get bad news. It seems to me like I heard lots of bad news this week and not just my own. My less than stellar news was trivial compared to others I heard this week, so I won't whine.

Being an optimist, I have to believe things will get better.

If life was perfect all the time...how would we be able to appreciate truly great and wonderful events.

No one ever said life was fair...and it certainly hasn't been this week, has it? :)

So here is to those who have received less than the best news. May next week bring only good news to everyone.

And most importantly, may what ever chocolate you eat to forget the hurt, not add to your waistline.Hugs to all,Lara

Monday, March 20, 2006

Shopping with Boys

Lately it seems like I never get to buy any new clothes for myself. I believe this is wrong. The last three times I've gone shopping for clothing, I've gone with boys and I didn't get to buy a thing!!Something is really wrong with me.

And there are strict rules for shopping with boys. No excess talking.No eye contact.Do not under any circumstances show any sort of affection. Including, but not limited to hugging, kissing on the cheek, or even a pat on the back. It will be met with severe punishment.As a matter of course, simply pretend you don't know them if others of his age are within a 100 foot radius.

Get in, get what you came for, and get out. It's like a military operation.

Someday I'll be able to go out and shop for clothes for myself. I think I'll go alone. Or perhaps I'll invite girls to go. I'll bet shopping with girls is more fun.L

Sunday, March 19, 2006

How much is too much?

How much is too much when you spend time on your computer?

I'm parked before mine every day for the greater part of the day. And the truth is, I get a little nervous to be away for too long. :)

I do aerobics Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for a couple of hours. But really, any time I leave my house, the first thing I do before I do anything else, when I walk back inside ...is check my e-mail. This makes my husband crazy when it's grocery day. "At least put the freezer stuff away, first!!" he says. :-)

Perhaps I need to relax a little and break away from the device that holds me spellbound. Looking down at my thighs as I write this...I'm thinking perhaps I should spend more time in aerobics. :)L

Thursday, March 16, 2006

Waiting...On My Mind

The worst part about anticipating anything...is the wait.It doesn't matter whether you are waiting for good news or bad news.

The wait is the killer.

Anticipation is fine in the short-term, but the excruciating wait for news which lasts several days or weeks or, heaven forbid, months is...well it makes my soul shrink in dread at the mere thought.

Writers especially have to have vast stores of fortitude to endure--the wait. We wait for contest entry news, responses from agents, responses from editors, responses from publishers, and all other manner of waiting based submission agony.

Our personal lives are also fraught with extended waiting periods. Anticipating news about loved ones far and near generates even more gut wrenching expectations on top of the ones you already face.

So today my fervent wish and prayer for everyone is, “May your wait be short and your news be great!”

Lara, who is, as you might have already guessed, waiting for good some specific good news.

Tuesday, March 14, 2006

Make a List ~ Check it off ~ Be Happy

I'm a big believer in lists. I make a list almost every single day of things I need to do. I derive great satisfaction and accomplishment from putting a check mark by a completed task. Well...at least my practical analytical side is happy about it.

My creative side is less worried about lists and well...being practical. When I go into writing mode, and especially when I'm creating something new, hours seem like minutes and I'm forever surprised at how much time has elapsed since I took note of my surroundings. Keep in mind the usual reason I'm pulled from my zen-like creativity is to do something mundane like fix food for a hungry male. :-)

Monday, March 13, 2006

The Pen that Stained Me

On my way out to get groceries to avoid a rebellion at my home today, I grabbed a pen to jot down one last thing on my list that I needed to get.Then the stupid cheap pen I snagged took the opportunity to give up on life and before I could say "Crap, my cheap pen just broke" big globby drops of blue ink covered my hands.

Picture this, I'm sitting in my car all buckled in and ready to go, but now I have to somehow carefully get back out of my car (but not use my hands) and clean up. Can you guess where else I have cheap blue ink now? That's right, my upholstery and my seat belt. Oh and FYI guess what doesn't wash off of skin with soap and water ~ you guessed it, Cheap Blue Ink.

As I grimace at the deep blue stains on my hands, I'm thinking of explanations for those curious people I'm now going to be talking to at the grocery store.Um...how about...Just say no to Home Tattoo Kits?Or maybe I fought a battle with a belligerent pen...and lost?

The irony here is that the final item I was going to put on my list before the big pen drama ~ I kid you not~ was spot remover. :-)

I bought a 4-pack of professional strength Spot Shot.If you're looking for me...I'll be in my car.Lara

Sunday, March 12, 2006

Colorado Persuasion

I had planned to take Sunday off and rest, but a good friend of mine in Colorado ~ Butch N. ~ to be exact, has informed me I do not get to have the day off. ;-) Fine.So here's to old friends who cannot possibly expect me to ignore a challenge when they throw down the gauntlet. This Blog's for you Butch!! I'm so happy to hear from you. :-) Behave.

Saturday, March 11, 2006

The Excellent Company I Keep

I took the time to read today. Yes, I know I was really supposed to be thinking of what I'm going to write next...but I strayed. :-)Today I read the other three serialized novels in the Free download at Siren Publishing ~~ Love Interludes. Whew! I adore my fellow Siren Authors. I've been wanting to read Between Darkness and Daylight by Gracie C. McKeever, Saving Grace by Lexy Wilder, and Fire & Ice by Amanda Hilton for months. I can already tell that I'll be the one whining the loudest as I wait for the next installments to become available. Okay, it's true, I'm whining now. I can't wait to see what happens next!!!! The heroes:Zane Youngblood Adam BlackstoneLucien DemarcusJake DonovanDon't they sound yummy??!!If you haven't read this free download yet...you should! Here it is:http://www.sirenpub.com/serials/Read the free download and prepare to be hooked. Am I going to buy each installment as it becomes available?...you bet I am! And in between each installment am I going to long for them?...you bet I am!! :-)L

Friday, March 10, 2006

Taming the Stories Flying in my Head

I've been suffering from the ailment "too many stories flying in my head".I know I'm not the only writer who feels this way.I've been working on edits lately and I wish the stories trying to be written would settle down in my mind and let me finish, but alas they still vie for my attention.

I used to try to multitask and write on several stories at once, but then all my characters sounded the same cardboard way so I stopped. One story at a time is best. I know this. Each story deserves my undivided attention. I need to focus and immerse myself, but which story idea should I work on next?

So hard to decide. :) TGIFI guess I'll take the weekend to figure out which one is next.

In the mean time, let's look at a new cover. Just A Kiss is the first book I sold to Siren Publishing. I wrote the first draft in about 2 weeks after being inspired by a joke on the Jay Leno show in April of 2005. He's the funniest man alive. :)L

Thursday, March 09, 2006

Another Day...Another Book Cover

I was trying to think of something intelligent to put on my blog today...and couldn't come up with anything. :)I'm doing some editing, which puts me in a different place creatively.So I decided I couldn't go wrong if I put another book cover up.Today we see The Miner's Wife cover and Brutal and Hannah. My first e-pubbed book and a personal favorite.LTo see other covers of mine, please go to Siren Publishing:www.sirenpublishing.com

Wednesday, March 08, 2006

Day one of blogging second post...

Okay my backseat driver went away...so now I'm free to say that I do believe blogging has merit.I can already envision my witty posts being shared by millions of people...or more realistically...at least one other person. :)Yes Kristen, it's you.

If there are others...please feel free to check out my latest cool cover. And for a free read of the first two chapters of The Blonde Bomb Tech, go here:http://www.sirenpub.com/serials/